Panic Criteria

Without Agoraphobia: Recurrent panic attacks (per criteria above) and at least one of the attacks have been followed by 1 month (or more) of at least one of the following:
  1. The attacks are not due to direct physiological effects of a substance (such as drug of abuse or a medication), or a general medical condition.
  2. The attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as social phobia, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder or separation anxiety disorder
With Agoraphobia
  1. Anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situationally predisposed panic attack or panic-like symptoms. 
  2. Avoidance of the situations or else they are endured with marked distress or with anxiety about having a panic attack, or require the presence of a companion.
  3. The anxiety or phobic avoidance is not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia (e.g. avoidance limited to social situations because of fear of embarrassment), Specific Phobia (e.g., avoidance limited to a single situation like elevators), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., avoidance of dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Post-traumatic stress disorder, or Separation Anxiety Disorder.
PANIC ATTACK SPECIFIER
Characterized by four or more of the following symptoms:
The presence of fewer than four of the below  symptoms may be considered a limited-symptom panic attack.
  • Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  • Sweating
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
  • Feeling of choking
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Nausea or abdominal distress
  • Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
  • Feelings of unreality (de-realization) or being detached from oneself (de-personalization)
  • Fear of losing control or going crazy
  • Fear of dying
  • Numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesias)
  • Chills or hot flushes

Articles

  • Craske M. G., et al. (2010). Panic Disorder: A Review of DSM-IV Panic Disorder and Proposals for DSM-V. Depression & Anxiety, 27, 93-112

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